Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity Mission

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles builds and renovates homes in partnership with God and people everywhere with a goal of eliminating substandard housing by making decent, affordable housing a matter of conscience and action in our communities.

How does it work?

Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable, noninterest loans. The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments are used to build even more Habitat houses. Habitat for Humanity provides a hand-up, not a hand-out. In addition to a down payment and the monthly mortgage payments, partner families invest hundreds of hours of their own labor – called sweat equity – into building their Habitat house and the houses of others.

Westside Churches Coalition

First UMC is one of nine churches to join in a coalition to fund and build a home in Culver City. To learn more on our efforts and to check the next WCC build date contact First UMC Santa Monica church representative Martha Ross: mpr01@verizon.net.

First UMC volunteers had a great build day at the Patience House Culver City location, minus the record heat, on Saturday, July 7. You can still sign up for the September and November build days – there are a few volunteer slots available.

(The Westside Coalition allocates a certain number of volunteer builders we can bring to the site. However, lunch volunteers are welcome in November!)

To know: Wear sturdy close-toed shoes (mandatory) • You may want to bring your own water to stay hydrated • Lunch will be provided. We are unable to customize lunches. If you have any food issues, we are asking that you bring your own lunch; beverages will be provided • Parking is at a premium at the Globe site, so if you can, please car pool.

Build dates: Saturdays, September 8 and November 3, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Our Habitat for Humanity/Culver City Build is ready to begin construction in earnest in July. Finally! Patience House will become a reality over the next 12 months, and I am sure you are excited as I am to be making this great project a reality.

Our first build date on site in the 4000 block of Globe Avenue in Culver City is Saturday, July 7. If you’re interested in participating, we still have some spots available for July, and there will be several more build dates in the Fall.

• Wear sturdy close-toed shoes (mandatory) and bring construction gloves if you have them • You may want to bring your own water to stay hydrated • Lunch will be provided. We are unable to customize lunches. If you have any food issues, we are asking that you bring your own lunch; beverages will be provided • Parking is at a premium at the Globe site, so if you can, please car pool.

This is a very special date for all of the churches in our coalition as it is the FIRST DATE of construction by volunteers. I hope you will join me in the excitement of this first of many days of living our faith and being God’s hands and feet!

UPDATE: April 3, 2018 – There is a volunteer opportunity this Saturday, April 7 in Culver City. View the information sheet for details and to RSVP.

UPDATE: August 2017

Due to a construction process delay, the first build date of September 30 and build timeline will be pushed several weeks. Visit the Habitat table during Coffee Hour on Sunday September 10 for updates and to reschedule, if needed.

Video from the Habitat for Humanity Builders Ball –

Profile of the Mulvihill Family

UPDATE: June 2017

Meet our Patience House Familyby Jill Obery Dodd
On May 20, Westlight Church hosted a wonderful music program with plenty of refreshments for the packed room. Habitat representative Chris Untiet, revealed the Mulvihill Family as recipents of Patience House, and presented then with a tool belt and flowers. The room was filled with great joy with lots of applause and tears. Fundraising efforts will conclude with a small online auction June 15 – 26, at www.biddingforgood.com/westsidechurchcoalition. And we look forward to getting volunteers signed up for a fall build! Thank you to everyone for your donations and prayers!

UPDATE: MAY 2017

Jazz Concert

May 20, 7-9 p.m. at the Venice Japanese Community Center 12448 Braddock Drive, LA 90066

The Westside Church Coalition invites everyone to Jazz for Friends – Help Build a House and Hope for a concert sponsored by Westlight Church, part of our coalition. The show will feature WOW:Women of Westlight, a singing group. Suggested donation is $20 (refreshments included) with proceeds going directly to our Coalition house. Email Lori Tamura at ltamura@westlight.org to reserve your ticket or pick up at the door. Checks can be made out to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles.

Online Silent Auction

Open June 15 to June 26

Then, check out the website Bidding for Goodwww.biddingforgood.com/westsidechurchcoalition for our Silent Auction from June 15-26. We have less than $10,000 to raise toward our $150,000 goal! We’re also on track to begin volunteer sign ups in June, so stay tuned. Thank you everyone!!

UPDATE: FEBRUARY 2017

by Jill Obery Dodd
Good things are happening with our Coalition progress! We are nearing our fundraising goal with over $130,000 turned in to Habitat from all church partners. Remaining to raise is a little under $17,000. This is exciting news and we thank everyone who has been a part of getting the project to this point. As we close the fundraising gap, we’ll begin to talk more about volunteer build opportunities at our monthly meetings. Additionally, the Habitat Homeowner meetings in January were well attended garnering many applications. Finally, look for the special Habitat for Humanity LA Lenten Devotional Calendar which you can pick up at the Sunday Welcome Table, and the Hospitality Table. This is a great way to combine support for Habitat Culver City with your Lenten spiritual practice.

Click on calendar to download

First UMC is excited to join in a coalition of Westside churches, to fund and build a home in Culver City for a family in need. The coalition’s fundraising goal is $150,000 for all churches combined, with $113,000 already raised (as of December 6.) Once the money has been raised, building will begin and will be staffed by volunteers from the coalition churches.

While we build and repair homes nationally and internationally through our Haiti and Youth Service Project efforts, Habitat for Humanity gives us a chance to do something in our own backyard. Habitat is also an opportunity to share the good news with a friend who may feel uncomfortable coming to a traditional church event or worship gathering. Also, Habitat homes are well constructed and give us a tangible way to be of service.

Donate to the First UMC Habitat for Humanity effortHERE(please notate: Habitat in the Organization field), or you may bring a check to the church office or during worship with Habitat for Humanity written in the memo line.

UPDATES

Rev. Robert English discusses Habitat for Humanity on the radio show “Spotlight on Community,” hosted by Terri-Rae Elmer. Listen to the show here.